Miss Chinese International 2012

[Samuel unlogged]

Who are your favorites to win??

So far, I have HK, KL, Van. as top 3. Misses New York and #22 as top 5. Hope they have a great format this year, not like the one in 2009..... 28 -> 8...

I would like the format to be
28 -> Top 12 or 10 -> Top 5 -> Announcement of top 3.
No more voting format like 2010 please...

[Samuel unlogged]

The pageant is going to be held on Sunday, at 9 p.m. HK time and so happy that I will be watching the pageant LIVE online! Exciting, this will be the first time I see the pageant live.

Guest performers include Hacken Lee, Mag Lam, and a few other singers, INCLUDING last year's handsome performer Raymond Lam! He will perform 4 opening segments with the 28 delegates. I really anticipate that part!! Nice.

OK, here are more of my thoughts on the contestants, before putting together my final predictions.

Let's begin with the Asia Pacific region, delegates #1-10:

#1 Bianca (Auckland)

Her look is decent and height is ok. Speaks Cantonese but her chances are silm imo.

#2 Hillbe (Auckland)

She looks like last year's performer, Miss Lau. She has a decent look, slightly shorter than her predeccessor (who is #1 Bianca.......), but she has better measurements. I think she has a decent chance.

#3 Billya (Bangkok)

Has height but I don't think her lack of Chinese is enough for her to place.

#4 Emily (Kuala Lumpur)

Similarly like Auckland, KL has two reps. this year (a little unfair imo..... it is like having 2 chances). Why don't Seattle, Tahiti, and San Francisco send reps. Anyway, I don't think Emily will place since most likely, TVB will make room for one KL rep. only, who is the facially beautiful and press favorite, Lenna (#5). HOWEVER, her Cantonese and interview skills (confidence) may allow her to get through. I do not have her on my top 12 list so far though.

#5 Lenna (Kuala Lumpur)

Regarded by the press as a favorite, her resemblance of Fala will get her far (at least top 5 imo). She has good interview skills and so she is a one to watch out. However, she doesn't speak Cantonese and the two other press favorites, #19 Van. and #26 HK are fluent in Canto., so Lenna does not have this crown in the bag yet. Will watch out for her though.

#6 Michelle (Manila)

Michelle is actually one of the strongest reps. Manila has sent since Carlene Aguilar in 2004. She is THE TALLEST delegate (5'11, hope Fung will not be embarrassed... he is 5'11 too) and she has a special oriental feeling. If Manila can make it in 2008, Michelle has a good chance too.

#7 Ailya (Melbourne)

Ailya is one of two reps. Melbourne is sending and alt. I don't want to, I need to compare her with #8 Jie. Ailya seems to be the better Mel. rep., but the city hasn't had a strong record at MCI, so, Mel. maybe shut out entirely. She is a master graduate but in a competitive field this year (the best since 2004), I think Ailya will be overlooked.

#8 Jie (Melbourne)

Same like Ailya, but Jie is the slightly weaker delegate of Mel. I don't think she will entirely miss the cut, but, not seeing it yet.

#9 Cheryl (Singapore)

I consider 2010's Singapore rep. to be stronger but despite crowning 2 winners in 1991 and 1996, Singapore hasn't placed ever since!!! Cheryl has a decent look imo but her small figure and short height will not be enough to advance her into the semifinals.

#10 Amy (Sydney)

The last rep. of this region is Sydney's Amy. Sydney was supposed to send 2 winners this year but 2010's winner couldn't go because of schedule conflicts. Had she competed, this year's pageant would have broken 2009's participating contestants' numbers and Fung to dance more (alt. that would bring the no. to 10 cities sending 2 reps......). Anyway, Amy looks decent and stands a good chance to make the cut.

In this region, my thoughts are:

Fair: #1, #3, #8, #9
Good: #2, #4, #7, #10,
Strong: #5, #6

[Samuel unlogged]

Hmmm, interesting, Manila's rep. speaks Mandarin! All the better for her if she advances to the top 12 interview (if there is a top 12, I'm sure though TVB will cut the delegates from 28 to 12 or 10 (no 8 or 5 that soon please.....). She may surprise us all.

[Samuel unlogged]

Onto the Euro-America region. Again, there are multiple cities sending two reps. so I think it is unfair for other cities.... i.e. Chicago, London bec. their last year's reps. didn't go. Even New York's 2009 winner should of competed.... alt. she has given up her crown (Toronto and Van. are competing).

Hopefully TVB can be fair and look into all the delegates, but, yet again, if Toronto and Van. performs well, I think we may see at least 3 or maybe all 4 of the contestants advancing.... if they are strong and beautiful, then it is ok, but, it is still anyway's game imo.

The strongest region imo, there will be many semifinalists coming from this region. Let's see:

#11. Kelly (Chicago)

Pan of Chinese Pageant Pictures has her as the front-runner and she looks promising to me, but she isn't receiving the amount of press-attention she was expected to received. She may pull up a Sarah Song surprise in 2007.... but Kelly imo is taller and more facially beautiful. Her modeling experience will undoubtfully help her, so we'll see how she performs.

#12 Roro (London)

As Europe's only rep., I believe she will make it. Roro is a master graduate but her only disadvantage is figure and language (no Cantonese). 2010's winner seems stronger imo but Roro stands a fair chance to make it further. SINCERELY hope TVB Europe attempts to send all the local winners to HK... it is ridiculous (sorry to sound harsh) that Europe sends one rep. only while Canada sends 6, China has 7 (or 8?)..... Europe has a lot of Chinatowns and women of Chinese descent and they are not being well represented...... MCI can have Miss Italy, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, etc.....

#13 Wendy (Montreal)

Receiving a lot of press-attention for her figure, I think Wendy has the goods to continue Montreal's streak. Macy was good in 2010 and Wendy will make it for Montreal.

#14 Amanda (Montreal)

Amanda's eyes are pretty but her short height will unfortunately place her at a disadvantage. If she excels on her interview skills (she speaks Cantonese), she may make the top 12 but I don't think she will go further.

#15 Jasmine (New York)

I am from New York but I tried to be as neutral as possible for Jasmine. I picked her since she entered Miss New York Chinese last year and I told my mom, she will win! She indeed did and was commented by HK's The Sun Newspaper for having a radiant smile and being a favorite. She is unfortunately overshadowed by #19 and #26, but I think Jasmine has a good chance to make the top 5, possibly top 3 (if there is talent). Winning is not impossible but slightly harder for Jasmine.

Her mixed background and smile will make her the one to watch out for, but I think she is slightly weaker in interview, figure wise and catwalk. If she works on that, she should be ok.

#16 Hilary (Toronto)

Command of Cantonese and her HK look should make her top 12 material. She has a chance to make the top 5 (like Sarah Song) but I don't think she will win. I actually favor her look over the other Toronto rep.

#17 Ashton (Toronto)

Some may like her for her unique look (Eurasian look??) but I don't feel her yet... TVB may put both Toronto reps. to the semifinals but between her and Hilary, I think Hilary maybe the one through. Her command of Cantonese will be a deciding factor between her and Hilary (or whether they both make it).

#18 Susan (Vancouver)

She's a little short and beated out my favorite to win MCV that year but her voice is ok... height will be a slight disadvantage but TVB favors Van. so she has a chance to make it along with #19 Erica. She will not place higher than her though.

#19 Erica (Vancouver)

Receiving a lot of press attention for her family background, Erica will be top 5 material. I did not notice her at first but she looks strong (speaks Cantonese, background will allow her to get noticed, voice sounds like Grace Wong, and she is quite poised). Her only disadvantage maybe that Van. has won 5 times already and the reigning MCI is from Van., so will Van. win it again!? I will not rule her out entirely, but to be honest, I don't want Van. to win again... I think one of the reasons why Tahiti, Seattle and SF are withdrawing this year is because of Van's recent wins..... and given that they are sending TWO reps. this year, that may have scared away them.

OK, my quick thoughts of the Euro-America delegates:

Fair: #14, #17
Good: #12, #13, #16, #18
Strong: #11, #15, #19

[Samuel unlogged]

Decided to stop for a while but let me continue....... not stopping, the last group of delegates from Greater China!!

#20 Angel (Anqing)

Standing at 5'1, Angel is the shortest delegate this year. She will be towered by the other delegates... so I don't think Angel will make it.

#21 Lily (Anyang)

Lily doesn't seem to be strong too... she is 5'4.5" and her look is... slightly stronger than #20 tho.

#22 YueRong (Beijing)

When I saw her on the Mainland China MCI website, I had her as China's strongest rep. YueRong will be the one to beat in China and seems to be the contender for the Greater China's title (along with #26 HK). She will not win but top 5 is possible.

#23 Una (Beijing)

Una is the 2nd rep. from Beijing and I think she is the slightly weaker one. 19 years old but her look... don't think TVB (judges I mean) will advance 2 Beijing reps. though.

#24 Alice (Dailan)

Too China look... the judges will not advance her.

#25 Maggie (Dailan)

If judges choose to advance Dailan reps., I think Maggie will be the one. She has a good chance.

#26 Rebecca (Hong Kong)

Regarded by the press and fans as the best Miss HK since Sonija to win MCI, I think Rebecca is top 3 material. She may not be liked by all fans (she doesn't look like Fala that much), but TVB will favor her a lot. Myolie (who awarded her an award) and Michael Tse (movie partner with her) will favor her so I don't find it surprising if she wins next Sunday. HK hasn't won since 2000 and if Rebecca does, I will not reject.

Her only disadvantages are her interview skills, she doesn't seem to be as elegant as #19 or her responses aren't as "gracious." But, she is in my top 5 for sure!

#27 Nanci (Tianjin)

OK delegate, may advance (don't think it will be a China dominance like 2008 though).

#28 XinYan (Zhengzhou)

Last but not least, Xin Yan of Zhengzhou. The last time this city competed was in 2009, when they debuted and placed. I have her on and off..... she seems prettier than 2009's rep. but she may not make it... have her as good so far.

Final thoughts for Greater China:

Fair: #20, #21, #24
Good: #23, #25, #27, #28
Strong: #22, #26

[Samuel unlogged]

After putting together all of the final thoughts, my top 12 list so far include (in no particular order):

#2 Auckland (Hillbe)
#5 Kuala Lumpur
#6 Manila
#11 Chicago
#12 London
#13 Montreal (Wendy)
#15 New York
#16 Toronto (Hilary)
#19 Vancouver (Erica)
#22 Beijing (YueRong)
#25 Dailan (Maggie)
#26 Hong Kong

[Samuel unlogged]

#4 Kuala Lumpur
#10 Sydney
#17 Toronto
#18 Vancouver
#28 Zhengzhou

Follow as top 12 alternatives.

[Samuel unlogged]

OK... here are my final predictions... Let's begin with Miss Friendship 2012...

My pick is Miss...

#7 Ailya Fan (Melbourne)

or

#18 Susan Su (Vancouver)

Next, my final top 12 list. In random order, they are (including estimated amount of risk in which they will place. If there is no risk listed, I believe they will place for sure):

#19 Vancouver (Erica)
#26 Hong Kong
#05 Kuala Lumpur (Lenna)
#22 Beijing (YueRong)
#12 London - low risk here
#25 Dailan (Maggie) - low risk here
#13 Montreal (Wendy) - low risk here
#15 New York
#11 Chicago
#02 Auckland (Hillbe)
#06 Manila - taking a risk here, Manila doesn't usually place but I have a feeling she will make it.
#16 Toronto (Hilary) - Fairchild reps. are usually prepared and I think she has a low risk of not advancing.

Placings for the delegates from 13th to 17th place (except a few here to advance):

13th: #18 Vancouver (Susan, she looks pretty and has ok height. She sounds wonderful when speaking but I don't know if TVB will advance two Van. reps... so I decided to leave her out, although I have a feeling she will make it along with Erica).

14th: #10 Sydney (She is the only rep. from Sydney and I have a feeling the judges may like her. Wanted to place her in the top 12 but decided at last minute to leave her out).

15th: #28 Zhengzhou (I think more Greater China reps. will make the cut and she stands a decent chance).

16th: #17 Toronto (Ashton, another Fairchild rep., she looked better at MCT, so I decided to leave her out... If she makes it though, I won't be too surprised... but I would like Hilary to advance, while I don't think TVB will allow 2 Toronto reps...).

17th: #4 Kuala Lumpur (Emily, she speaks lots of languages and given how eloquent KL reps. are, she maybe a surprise... remember Belle in 2010??).

I thought my list will change but after much consideration, the top 12 and alternatives list remained the same. What is new now is the top 12 placings, from 12th to 6th place:

12th: #6 Manila (If she speaks Cantonese, I'm sure she may possibly make top 5... I hope she places because I quite like her look. She is the strongest Manila rep. since Carlene in 2004).

11th: #12 London (Def. not the strongest European rep. but TVB may send her through because of their relationship with TVB Europe. Roro also has a decent height).

10th: #25 Dailan (Should make top 12 but not further)

9th: #17 Hilary (She may make it to top 5 if she interviews well, since her Cantonese will help her a lot).

8th: #02 Auckland (I think she resembles a lot like Lau Yuan and she has striking eyes. She maybe a pleasant surprise).

7th: #13 Montreal (Considered by the press for having a great figure and look, I think she will either make it all or fail to place...)

6th: #22 Beijing (The strongest rep. from China, her polishing has made her look more mature. She may make it to the top 5 but I think she will fall a little short).

TOP 5 next...

[Samuel unlogged]

Top 5 final predictions......

4th runner up (5th place):

#11 Chicago

Kelly is not receiving a lot of press attention despite being a professional model and having 5'9" height. I think TVB may sign if she makes it far. If she interviews well and has a good talent (if there is), she may be on her way to becoming Chicago's first top 3 finisher.

3rd runner up (4th place):

#15 New York

I don't want to leave Jasmine out of the top 3..... I want to put her in the final 3 but the competition is quite tough this year. Jasmine has a beautiful mixed look (diverse) and she is the strongest NY rep. since Fala in 2005. The Sun Newspaper (HK) has her as a favorite but she has tough competition from the top 3 below. If she speaks Cantonese, interviews well, and has a great talent, she may make the top 3. Good luck Jasmine!

2nd runner up (3rd place).........

#26 Hong Kong

Rebecca is imo the strongest HK rep. since Sonija in 2002. In the beginning, I had her as the winner bec. 1. HK has not won since 2000, 2. The press's boast of her beauty resembling to MCI 2005 1st RU, Fala Chen. Fala did not win in 2005 and I want Rebecca to win but after the other cities crown stunners in Kuala Lumpur, New York, and Chicago, and the pressure from Vancouver (Erica) this year, I had to place her slightly lower. She MAY win though (Myolie and esp. Michael Tse will favor her) but after Fung (Raymond Lam)'s criticized win in JSG last week, I am afraid TVB will be hesitant to crown a fellow TVB rep.

1st runner up (2nd place).........

#19 Vancouver

To be honest, Erica wasn't near my top 3 since her win last year. I don't find her to be very stunning but her elegance/poise/interview skills propelled me to place her as 1st RU. Her pleasant voice and family background will get her noticed and Fairchild coaches their winners well, so she may make it to the top 3. Alt. Van. has won back to back twice in 2002 and 2005, I think Van. may be crowned 1st RU this year (I also don't want to see Vancouver win again.... many cities are possibly withdrawing because of their recent wins... Tahiti, Seattle, San Francisco for example...)

And, Miss Chinese International 2012 is....

#5 Kuala Lumpur (Lenna)

A Fala Chen look-alike, she has great interview skills and a beautiful smile. I don't know if the judges may see her look as good or bad (they may find her not as pretty as Fala and pass her) but I think she will make the top 3. Kuala Lumpur has not won since 2003 so I think if she does win, TVB will sign her as an actress (remember Vivian in 2004? She didn't speak Cantonese but TVB signed her). Her only disadvantage is lack of Cantonese but she has the goods to win. The only thing I want her to change is speaking more "world peace," HK newspapers criticized her earlier for not being as gracious as Rebecca. She was straight-forward and said yes to Rebecca not looking like Fala.

Other awards for the pageant are.................

Miss Cosmopolitan: #15 New York
Her mixed look and smile makes her very cosmopolitan

Miss Asia Pacific Vitality: #5 Kuala Lumpur
Lenna should be the highest placed delegate from Asia Pacific, so she should be the recipent of this award.

Miss Euro-American Glamour: #19 Vancouver
Erica has great poses and is quite gracious (comparable to Grace Wong and Winnie Yeung), so she should be the one.

Miss Greater China Classic Charm: #26 Hong Kong
Rebecca has great classic charm, a mix of western and Greater China culture. She should win this award.

[Samuel unlogged]

OOPS... I made a slight typo..

I have #19 Vancouver (Erica) as the predicted Miss Friendship winner (not #18 Vancouver).

#7 of Melbourne is the second pick to win Miss Friendship. She speaks a lot of languages and is a customer service rep. so she may also win!

[Samuel unlogged]

OK, there are my final predictions............. wish all the delegates well and good show tomorrow.

I will be watching the finals LIVE at 8 a.m. EST time online, can't wait to see the opening!

[Samuel unlogged]

Already disappointed with the format right now.......... excepted a cut from 28 to 12 but it is even fewer... 10 delegates..

BUT.. from 10 there will be an announcement of THE FINAL 3. That means............. there will be NO announcement of top 5. So bad...

[guest guest]

in terms of the withdrawal of sf, tahiti, calgary, seattle etc.. it's because the pageant is no longer garnering interest in those areas. as you may have noticed, pageants are seeing a decrease in applications (including powerhouses like van, toronto and hk). don't think it's because they're fed up with vancouver winning.

[airec]

Alright, this year I am just going with my guts because last year I went for a blackhorse

Winner: Toronto #17
1st Runner Up: Vancouver #19
2nd Runner Up: KL #5
Top 10: Toronto #16, Vancouver # 18, Hong Kong, Chicago, New York, Beijing, Dalian
Alternatives: Auckland #2, Manila, Melbourne #8, London

Miss Cosmopolitan: Toronto #17
Miss Asia Pacific Vitality: KL #5
Miss Euro-American Glamour: Vancouver #19
Miss Greater China Classic Charm: Hong Kong

Good Luck to the Girls. Cannot wait to find out the results!

[guest guest]

just wanted to make a quick comment in terms of height.. don't think it's a big of a factor nowadays compared to a few years back for asian pageantry.